V&A

'Glastonbury: Land & Legend' is an immersive art installation about the Glastonbury Festival presented by the V&A, which ran as part of the Prague Quadrennial in the Jaroslav Fragner Gallery, Prague. Showcasing previously unseen footage captured at the festival in 2014, the installation explores the ethos of the largest green field performance festival in the world.

Working as part of the project team with the V&A, the installation required a brand identity for application in the exhibition foyer and the external gallery signage, as well as large scale graphics for the walls before visitors enter the main installation. With topography and infrastructure being a key theme of the installation, a large festival site map was incorporated, built up with layers of abstract shapes to define key areas, along with a wide range of typographic facts about the festival itself. All of which are intended to give a sense of scale to the visitor on arrival. Exhibition images by Adéla Vosicková.

Hatch

Hatch is a group of talented young professionals working in the built environment industry, under the guidance of the Design Commission for Wales, whose aim is to meet regularly and have a collective voice in order to discuss, challenge and solve existing issues within the built environment. The group's proactive nature encourages the sharing of ideas in order to learn, raise standards and make better places.

In this instance, once a name had been decided, an initial brand identity was required, one which had a visual link to the existing Design Commission brand but which represented the eclectic mix of Hatch members. A simple system, inspired by the graphic architectural 'hatch' marks was created as an initial platform from which further material can be developed.

Deliverables: Branding, style guidelines

Make / Believe

Make / Believe is the title of the upcoming UK national exhibition for all facets of theatre design and performance, showcasing UK designers that are notable around the world. The exhibition will open at Nottingham Trent University in January 2015. and will be touring to the Prague Quadrenial and the V&A Museum in London thereafter.

Full project coming soon.

Deliverables: Branding, print, book design

Gallery thumbnail: 'Disco Babies' - Nadia Malik

Delight in the Everyday

Delight in the Everyday is an exhibition which recognises quality in everyday life – the homes, public places, schools, work places, parks, shops and community buildings which we enjoy and form the background to our everyday lives. The exhibition, which was a collaboration between the Design Commission for Wales and Ruthin Craft Centre, celebrates the simple pleasures found in the most unassuming of places.

The exhibition required an initial identity, which was treated bilingually and based on a very static, neutral typographic style coupled with an expressive handwritten flourish. A suite of promotional material was also created to be handed out on site, namely a free 16 page newspaper that highlighted each entrant and a set of individual postcards.

Insufficiently Welsh

In this informal journal, Griff Rhys Jones rediscovers the "land of his aunties" on a mission to explore Wales - taking in the hidden treasures and eccentric characters that make the country so unique.

Created to coincide with the primetime ITV series of the same name in early 2014, the hardback book was developed alongside the publishers Parthian, the production company Modern Television and Griff himself. The book documents Griffs take on his journey around Wales on a series of challenges, packed with photography and weird & wonderful facts throughout.

Deliverables: book design, typesetting, ebook

Landscape photography: Scott Dewey, Modern Television

City Futures

Cities are engines of growth – more than half of the world's population already live in them. City Futures was a one-day event, run by the Design Commission for Wales, to highlight and debate the role of the city in our lives.

An identity and visual style was developed and applied to various promotional materials, including pdf booking forms, delegate information pack, and a twelve page tabloid newspaper, given out to all attendees to the conference.

DCFW Design Review

The Design Commission for Wales champions good design in the built environment: in buildings, places and public realm. They connect the design disciplines of architecture, urban and landscape design with decision makers who shape the countryside, cities, towns and villages of Wales.

The Design Review is a publication which documents and explores the projects that DCFW were involved in over a four year period. This is the third Design Review that DCFW have produced, and was the first major project to mark the start of ongoing graphic design support for the Commission. The 140 page Review needed a complete visual overhaul, drawing on a recent rebranding process that the Commission had undertaken, that allowed for a variety of detailed content and case studies. The result was a clean, structured publication, that accentuated and developed the rebrand. The Review was produced as both a printed book and pdf for circulation.

Deliverables: Book design

Griffin Books

Griffin Books is an independent book store based in the heart of Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan. Passionate about all forms of literature, they offer a personal and customer-focused shopping experience.

As a brand new business, Griffin Books required an identity that was both traditional but not stuffy, and a style that would set them apart from the multitude of chain stores on the high street. A timeless and elegant typographic identity was developed along with a hand drawn symbol to reflect the owners surname, coupled with a modern/traditional colour scheme. The branding was applied to initial promotional printed material and store signage.

Deliverables: Branding, print, signage

World Stage Design 2013

World Stage Design is a celebration of international performance design from the world of theatre, opera and dance. This years event was held in Cardiff, with previous events being held in Seoul and Toronto.

The project required the development of a basic existing identity into a full suite of material, ranging from printed programmes and guides to city-wide promotional signage, culminating in a sumptuous 220 page exhibition catalogue that showcased the stunning entries from the worlds leading theatre designers.

hinterland / y gwyll

hinterland/y gwyll is a new detective drama, in the mould of The Killing and Borgen, set in West Wales. The series was filmed entirely bilingually, scene-by-scene, initially aired in Welsh on S4C with the English version following on BBC.

The series required a brand identity that reflected the nature and personality of the series, which revolved around the concept of 'things eroding slowly over time'. Working with Fiction Factory and All3Media, a bilingual typographic identity was created, along with brand guidelines to aid with national and international promotions. Photography shown courtesy of S4C, Y Gwyll.

Deliverables: Branding, brand guidelines, print.

Library of Birmingham

The new Library of Birmingham, designed by Mecanoo Architecten, was officially opened in early 2013. The iconic building overlooks the city from its central location, and is intended to be much more than a traditional city library, with performance spaces, meeting facilities and a Shakespeare memorial room, sat at the highest point.

Working alongside Arts Consultants Urban Condition and with the existing brand style of the library, an interactive pdf report was designed to outline the strategy for the commission and incorporation of public art into the impressive space.

Deliverables: Interactive report.

Fiction Factory

Fiction Factory make high quality, original and popular drama.

To coincide with the launch of their highly anticipated bilingual series 'hinterland/y gwyll', Fiction Factory required a refresh of their brand and overhaul of their website. The site, along with the identity was stripped back to be much more focused on the quality programmes that they produce. A fully responsive version is currently being developed.

Deliverables: Branding, web.

Pen Talar

Pen Talar is sweeping ‘state of the nation’ history, an epic odyssey, following the trials and tribulations of David Lewis’ life from his idyllic 1960s childhood to his final dramatic exit from the centre of public life in the global meltdown of 2010.

Working with the existing programme identity, a series of images were produced from the programme stills, to give a real cinematic feel to the dvd packaging, and enhance the theme of development from young boy to grown man as the series progresses.

Deliverables: Brand development, packaging.

Doctor Bob

In the balloon industry, Doctor Bob is a big deal. He lectures around the world on balloon art and is internationally recognised as being a leader in balloon decor and sculpture.

Doctor Bob needed a complete rebrand in order to set themselves apart from their competitors, both locally and nationally. They needed an iconic identity which reflected the quality of service they have become renowned for, and one which reflected the creative nature of their line of work.

Deliverables: Branding, print, signage, web.

Go Compare

Covered Mag is the online news magazine for the insurance company Go Compare. A website in itself, Covered Mag offers an alternative take on all subjects relating to insurance, via contributing editors, in order to offer a slightly different view on what can be a fairly straight subject matter.

Working with the in-house team, the site was initially sketched up and wire-framed across a number of devices, before a brand style for the new magazine was created and applied. The site was intended to have a real newspaper/magazine feel throughout, as well as being visually quite different from the recognised Go Compare brand.

Deliverables:Branding, UI design.

Heads of the Valleys

Safle, the former public art agency for Wales, worked with the five boroughs within the Heads of the Valleys region to produce a document outlining their vision for public art over the following ten years. The written report, full of supporting case studies, needed a distinctive look throughout, in order to combine the public art vision of the Heads of the Valleys region with positive elements of tourism.

The outcome was an elegant yet earthy strategy document, balancing the detailed written content with rich, striking imagery throughout its two volumes. The complete document set was produced using sustainable stock throughout and an entirely separate version was created in Welsh.

Deliverables: Print

Ruth Mclees

Ruth Mclees is a widely exhibited Cardiff-based artist, who has a lifelong fascination with light, layering and pattern. A more polished identity and brand style was needed prior to her work on a series of bespoke soft furnishings, to allow her name to become a ‘brand’. Inspiration for the initial print work was taken from her striking multi-layered paintings on patterned fabrics and other materials – as seen in two of Ruth's artworks in the first image. The identity was kept deliberately neutral and unfussy, so as to avoid detracting from the rich colours and imagery within her work, and applied to business cards, tags and promotional cards.

Deliverables: Branding, print.

Cycle Training Wales

Cycle Training Wales are a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2008, who aim to promote well-being and the environmental benefits of cycling through education and skills training. Since creating the distinctive brand back when the company was launched, various printed items have followed, such as annual reports and promotional literature. Photography by Christopher Davies.

Deliverables: Branding, print, art direction.

Adamas Studio

Adamas Studio, set up by Neil Rayment, produce exquisite bespoke jewellery using a balance of traditional silversmithing techniques and modern CAD technology, old and new.

A new brand was created that emphasise the precise nature of Neils work, complemented by some luxurious silver blocked stationery. A number of secondary identities have also been developed for other lines of Neil's jewellery work.

Deliverables: Branding, print, web.

Telegraph World Cup

The Telegraph wanted their World Cup 2010 iphone app to offer something a bit different from the norm. Along with their in-depth coverage of the tournament in South Africa, the app needed to be customisable and act as an up-to-the-minute pocket companion throughout.

Working with Tigerspike London, the visual style of the app was developed from detailed wireframes and user journeys supplied. It was intended to draw on the ethos of football management games, to be aimed at the unashamed football geeks amongst us. Individual, colour coded team sections were created, allowing the user to follow their favourite countries at a glance, with countless in-game statistics to keep users occupied during half time or lulls in play.

A first personal insight into the world of design for the small screen, the free app was positioned number one in the iTunes uk store sports chart for the tournament, and was downloaded over 500,000 times worldwide.

Deliverables: UI design, iPhone app.

Institute of Welsh Affairs

The Institute of Welsh Affairs is an independent, membership-based think tank dedicated to promoting the well-being of Wales.

A much-needed rebrand was initially delivered, in order to better reflect their growing and diverse membership, and to drive forward the visual quality of their output. The house style was developed to incorporate the design of their regular 80+ page journal 'agenda' (published three times per year) and a separate brand created for the online news magazine clickonwales. Numerous standalone publications have also been delivered, ranging from photographic essays on Welsh culture to detailed statistical reports.

Deliverables: Branding, print, publications, web.

Logos

A selection of identities created for clients past and present over the years.

Weston Naturally Exclusive

Weston Naturally Exclusive, founded by Professor Richard Weston, utilises elements of nature to produce beautiful abstract imagery. Tiny sections of minerals are scanned at a high resolution and used to create visually stunning large format artworks. A range of his unique scarves are currently being sold at Liberty of London.

Iniitial identity created whilst working at 6721 ltd, and applied to an initial printed suite, making full use of the rich colours and subtle tones with the images themselves, with no editing whatsoever, so as to preserve their existing 'natural exclusivity'.

Deliverables: Branding, print.

Severn Screen

Severn Screen are an independent film and television company founded in 2009. They currently have a slate of feature films in development with partners including BBC Films, Film Agency Wales, New Zealand Film Commission and the BFI.

A brand new typographic identity was created for the launch, which was then developed across a bold, monotone stationery set. Image by Warren Orchard.

Deliverables: Branding, print.

Evan Evans Brewery

Evan Evans are Wales' oldest brewing family, with over 245 years of history and experience within the industry. Based in West Wales, they pride themselves on the core quality and variety of their ales, with seasonal tastes developed throughout the year.

During the period working with the existing Evan Evans brand, a range of printed promotional materials were produced, outlining the variety of offerings and encouraging seasoned beer afficionados to 'complete the set' of diverse seasonal drinks. A brewery website was also delivered, a major part of which involved the art direction of a series of images that showcase the brewing process, allowing beer lovers the chance to see the work that goes into producing their pint. Photography by Christopher Davies.

Deliverables: Brand development, print, art direction, web.

Design Wales

Design Wales offer support to businesses and networks throughout Wales, helping them understand and utilise elements of design into their organisations, from branding through to product and service design. They also provide a support network for designers across Wales.

A range of projects have been produced for Design Wales, those shown here are a CD-ROM packaging solution designed to aid businesses understand the design processes involved in a branding project, as well as a manifesto delivered to the Welsh Assembly which aimed to promote and drive innovation and design as essential problem-solving parts of our lives.

Deliverables: Print, packaging.

Co Pro Training

Co-Production is a democratic and effective method of commissioning, delivering and evaluating public services. Service professionals, service users and their communities work side by side to provide solutions which benefit all. Co Production Training UK offer training, development and support to those interested in this innovative way of collaborative working.

A clear new identity was required to coincide with a series of seminars/workshops, which was distinctive and memorable. A stripped back, typographic approach served to enhance the theme of collaborative work, intended to provide a simple starting point to the world of Co Production working.